DISQUS

Social Times: Why You Need To Shut Up And Start Listening

  • Steve Bellante · 4 months ago
    We all love to hear ourselves talk, which can make it hard to shut up as you put it and let someone else talk. It is a very important skill to learn though because there is nothing people love talking more about then themselves. Knowing how to gain liking from your audience is a very valuable tool to have.
  • John Carson · 4 months ago
    This advice is getting a bit cliche now. If everyone's listening, Nick, who are they listening to?

    John.
  • Nick O'Neill · 4 months ago
    @John, I'm not sure what you mean by your question ... Obviously you should still produce content, but a larger part of online communication is listening to what's going on, not just speaking.
  • johncarson · 4 months ago
    Hey Nick,

    I meant that all the social media advice out there is to listen etc. I say go in and start talking with people! If everyone sits on the sidelines listening and monitoring, who is actually doing the talking?

    Have you ever been at a social gathering, circled the room, listening to people's great conversations and then not joined in? It's becoming a bit of a cliche, I think, to advise people just to listen. And by saying that I don't mean jump in immediately with the hard sell, I mean get your feet wet, get in there and chat.

    Hope that clarifies my original response!

    John.
  • Johnes · 4 months ago
    I totally agree with you. Many people speaks only in monologues and they´re wondering, if nobody notice what they have to say. My intention is first to listen what a person have to say and then I speak. But the most people going the first way.
  • Justin · 4 months ago
    "who's" = who is
  • Alia · 3 months ago
    John, I agree that there is much advice about listening in the social media space. But I would argue that a majority of marketers haven't "listened" to the listening advice. While there is nothing wrong (and everything right) about getting in there and chatting, I think we agree that a sales pitch mildly masked as a chat still doesn't cut it. Unfortunately, I think marketers are still having trouble differentiating themselves from that person at the party who is just engaging so they can have a chance to speak and that person who is truly interested in what someone has to say.
  • paula · 3 months ago
    I agree with what you're saying about @ replies being better than a retweet. It's a better way to engage with other twitter users and ultimately to get more foloowers.
  • Walter Butz · 3 months ago
    yes, it's all about listening. to me this is true at first when people meet in 'real' life. often i can see some people talking and no one listening. this is a great article for my blog. although i have to translate some thoughts into german and then link to your original article... may i also use the picture of that big eared dog? if not - of course that will not change anything. it remains a great article and i will mention it.

    greetings from germany
    walter butz
  • Web 2.0 Chiropractic Marketing · 3 months ago
    OK, it's time to stop being aggressive on marketing and listen to new ways to learn new things, this post really makes a lot of sense, you made me think back and unwind..
  • Crisiboy · 3 months ago
    Yah I also agree that sometimes you have to listen first before talking.
  • interesting facts · 3 months ago
    Leadership is all about listening, understanding and then deciding on the course of action, by following this formula you will achieve business success.
  • Hampers · 1 month ago
    It's a two way traffic in every endeavor,: the listener and the speaker. If mastered, will result to tremendous benefits.
  • public servant · 1 month ago
    I agree with "Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves"
    It's very work for me. I can know some need or think from someone that talk with me.